Customer Reviews

Isadora [VHS]

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Isadora", the ambitious movie bio of famed early 20th Century dancer Isadora Duncan, opened in 1968 to mixed reviews and poor boxoffice. In those days, the contractual right to a director's cut of a film was quite rare. The distributor, Universal Studios, quickly shortened the picture by 30 or so minutes. It later changed the title to "The Loves of Isadora". None of these efforts bore fruit, and the production soon faded from most people's memories. It did result in a much deserved Oscar nomination for its star, Vanessa Redgrave, who lost out to Barbara Streisand and Katherine Hepburn [tie vote].

Duncan was a remarkable woman who vowed never to get married [though she finally did] in an age where marriage was most women's singular goal. She may not have revolutionized The Dance, but she certainly had a strong influence on it. She openly had several lovers over the years. These ranged from a brilliant set decorator to the American heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune to a Russian Bolshevik poet. Her dance recitals enthralled audience in American and Europe. She founded several schools whose purpose was to educate children though art.

Redgrave is stunning as Isadora, and her inspired performance makes the movie well worth watching. Some viewers recommend the original version, which I own. It runs 157 minutes. I suspect, though, that this is a movie that actually benefits from some judicious editing. In the original, the Russian sequences go on and on and are filled with stereotypical views of Russian artists, performers and poets during the Bolshevik period. Up to that point, "Isadora" is quite fascinating. I feel the shorter version, which runs about 131 minutes, is more coherent. It maintains the great majority of Redgrave's amazing interpretation of Duncan.

Other memorable Redgrave movies include "Howard's End", "Julia" and "The Devils". Reisz did a wonderful directing job on "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning", "Morgan" and "The French Lieutenant's Woman".

The legend of Isadora Duncan seems to be gradually fading with time. But when this film was made in the 1960's, she was still very much a bright memory and her free-spirited approach to both life and her art struck a definite chord with the Love Generation. Seen today, it's still a fascinating glimpse into what was undoubtedly an eccentric and frustrating yet brilliant character. As a dancer, Isadora was unique although hardly a pivotal figure in the history of dance.

The film is always beautiful to look at - the style seems to suggest that there were many similarities between the Twenties and the Sixties. I don't know about that, but the film has a splendid period feel. The gorgeous Croatian resort of Opatija was an inspired choice to represent the French Riviera of the Twenties. A lot of attention has been paid to all the detail. Too bad, therefore, that Maurice Jarre's music seems to reflect neither the era nor the character of Isadora. But visually the film is fantastic.

Director Karel Reisz deserves much praise for making the enigmatic character of Isadora as accessible as he does. The script tries hard to illuminate her by concentrating on key events in her life rather than making a conventional biopic for this very unconventional person. But it constantly and somewhat needlessly jumps back and forth in time which is occasionally confusing. The concentration on Isadora is so absolute that the other people come and go with barely a word of introduction or explanation. Much is made of Isadora's grief over the death of her children in a car accident. But no mention is made of her Russian husband's suicide. Our view of Isadora is more impression than insight.

Even so, Vanessa Redgrave treats us to a remarkable performance - making Isadora as credible as she was outrageous. She is also surprisingly good in the dance sequences, some of which are quite stunningly staged. Redgrave's American accent may wander a bit, but she holds nothing back in baring Isadora's soul to us. It is a powerful performance.

All the other actors are truly just "supporting". Cast against type, James Fox has a great time as the extravagent designer Gordon Craig. Jason Robards, by contrast, is permanently morose as millionaire Paris Singer. As the Russian poet who eventually marries Isadora, Ivan Tchenko is full of fire and vodka. Special mention should be made of John Fraser, who plays Isadora's long-suffering secretary Roger. Fraser was a wonderful actor in some significant films of the Sixties (El Cid, Repulsion, Tunes of Glory) yet stardom somehow eluded him. He gives the second best performance in Isadora - an expertly judged mixture of devotion and exasperation.

But the film really belongs to Vanessa Redgrave and Karel Reisz. Together, they create many memorable moments. The best of these is when Isadora is dancing for an audience of Russians in those dark days just after the Revolution. Suddenly, a power failure puts the lights out. Isadora is given a lantern and someone starts to sing. Soon, everyone is singing and dancing an impromptu and emotional version of "Kalinka". The scene captures Isadora's love of dance, the Russian soul, the universal appeal of art, and everything that is good about film. We are both touched and thrilled. It is too much to expect the film to be that good all the way through.

Slightly irreverent, but apt, considering la Duncan's dramatic demise [if you don't know - it is quite a moment!].

Book-ended between Isadora's final days somewhere on the French Riviera, she's obsessed with a handsome stranger driving said Bugatti; it's a remarkable tale of early 20th century feminine liberation when corsets were still de rigueur. Vanessa Redgrave stuns with her beauty and talent as the pioneering Duncan - difficult sandals to fill! Perfect casting. Equally impressive are James Fox as Edward Gordon Craig, theatrical designer extraordinaire, and Jason Robards as sewing machine millionaire, Paris Singer [both fathering Duncan's tragic offspring].

Big budget sets and costumes are unfortunately not too visible in this format, at least we do have the complete version BUT we miss the superb camera work - constant movement until the end - the stillness of the ocean .........

Peppered with intentional patches of humor [the unsightly pianist Singer provides for Duncan] and moments of utter pathos [the tormented Russian poet, Sergei Essenin - who also exited rather spectacularly from life, we're spared that.] This is another treasure from the liberated days of 1968 in need of total DVD restoration.

Footnote: Ken Russell also paid homage to Ms. Duncan in the Omnibus series "Isadora Duncan, the World's Biggest Dancer" with Vivian Pickles. Rarely seen, but both versions well worth it!

I love Vanessa Redgrave and her ability to perform and bring to life, the late and beloved and controversial dancer, Isadora Duncan. Her relationships with men were quite interesting with Isaac Singer of the Sewing machine empire and the Russian. Vanessa manages to capture the role so superbly that the time flies by so fast. It would have been nice to see Dame Ellen Terry who was the grandmother to her two children in the film but sadly the life of Isadora Duncan was met with tragedy. American actress Cynthia Harris better known for playing Helen Hunt's mother on Mad About You has a supporting role.

I first saw this film with my mother when I was about 11 or 12. This film, aside from sometimes drawn out dance sequences, was a captivating portrayal of Ms. Duncan. Her vigor for life and disregard for anyone's objections was potrayed beautifully by one of the most talented actors of our time.

When you watch it's like you go along for the sporatic emotional rollercoaster that Duncan goes through. One minute she's elated, next she's moved to tears, and finally alcohol induced exhaustion. I loved it... I'd hate to see it disappear! Redgrave's performance related to me at 12 and still at 23. I have it on vhs and want the dvd!

Only one person can play Isadora Duncan and be successful at it and
that's Vanessa Redgrave. She played every range of emotion one could
possibly play and was just hypnotic...I guess that's why she received
an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination (to name a few) and
won the Cannes (to name a few). I've seen Vivian Pickles in Isadora and she's good, but I saw more spark
from Redgrave, incidentally I saw Vivian's performance of Duncan before
Redgrave's. Ken Russell is a great film maker, but this was his warming
up film I suppose. His greatest is, of course, The Devil's (which also
stars Vanessa Redgrave).

Redgrave has many scenes in which she show cases that she was the
deserve win for Oscar, or at least tie with Kate Hepburn who was
also marvelous that year. I purchased a book recently on the Oscars and
they had an article that said that 1968 was a hard year to decide what
films should be nominated and in their list of what films were
runner-ups, Isadora was in it.

The best three scenes would have to be: The Russian Dance, the scenes with "the Frog prince", and the final scene (Believe me there are more!). Isadora has the most unexpected end that your mouth will be wide open even after the credits have stopped (providing you don't know much about Duncan, then your mouth will be open until the credits appear.)

Karel Reisz's direction is superb, and Vanessa Redgrave's performance as Isadora Duncan is one of the greatest performances ever filmed. A brilliant and deeply soul-satisfying movie about a pioneer of awareness - yes I said awareness (in addition to the art of dance).

I was amazed when I received my copy of "Isadora" from Amazon, the miracle store, to discover a director's cut with scenes in it I had never seen before. A treasure with added bonuses and one of Vanessa Redgrave's finest moments. Thank you Amazon

This is not a masterpiece, but it is a very qualified, very good movie. What makes the film, however, is Redgrave, the greatest actress of her generation. Her performance is a must-see for anyone who likes craft and artistry.

"Isadora" is a long, challenging, frustrating, brilliant biography of the famed American dance innovator Isadora Duncan and her rise to fame in (primarily) Europe. Karel Reisz's direction and the costumes, cinematography, and score are first-rate, but the film rests on the formidable artistic shoulders of the incomparable, one-of-a-kind Vanessa Redgrave and she does not disappoint. Her accent is maddening at times, but her bravery and dedication to this role should be featured in acting classes for years to come. Along with "The Bostonians" and "Howards End", this performance ranks among her towering achievements and make the video worth buying over renting, as several viewings are needed. This director's edition cut is first-rate in quality and that cover art is sublime. Highly recommended for those in the market for something truly unique.